Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?

Another John Pickett Mystery (John Pickett Mysteries Book 10)

By: Sheri Cobb South

Narrated by: Joel L Froomkin

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

When one of his colleagues witnesses a robbery in which one of the participants, a child, bears a striking resemblance to a certain Bow Street Runner, John Pickett realizes he has a young half-brother who has been “apprenticed” to a criminal gang. The brutal murder of the pursuing constable makes the crime far more serious than a simple robbery would be - and 10-year-old Kit is linked to the crime by the toy soldier he dropped while fleeing the scene. 

In spite of his tender years, he will certainly hang unless Pickett can extricate him before fellow Bow Street Runner Maxwell solves the case. For the first time in his career, Pickett is obliged to work against one of his fellows, dogging Maxwell’s steps and trying to anticipate his next move in order to get to the boy first. 

Pickett’s investigation will take him back to the rookeries of London, where his own childhood was spent. But can he return to his old haunts without being pulled back into his old way of life?

©2020 Sheri Cobb South (P)2020 Sheri Cobb South

An exciting historical mystery!

This is the 10th book in the series. I have listened to the books out of order and each one stands alone. In this story, John Pickett, a Bow Street Runner (Early British policeman) discovers he has a previously unknown family member and returns to the place where he grew up. One of the runners is present at a robbery turned murder where a young child is part of the gang. Under English law, this child will be executed, even if he did not commit the murder, John Pickett is called in to help the child even if it undermines the Bow Street investigation. A very riveting story! This is a great mystery series, and you will want to read all the books! The narration in each book is absolutely fabulous and sounds like a full cast production. I was gifted a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful

Sheri Cobb South just keeps amazing me. I have loved this series from the beginning and with each new book, I am more enthralled. This is book number 10 and in many series, you will see a kind of a repeat of the same story. Well, that is not true for the John Pickett series! I love the addition of John's half-brother Kit and I look forward to many adventures between the brothers too. Can't wait for book number 11. Oh, and I can't forget the wonderful voice of Joel L. Froomkin who is the narrator for this series. Joel's voice is just perfect for this series and adds just that extra something to the enjoyment of the book. Well done!

John Pickett's half brother is facing the gallows

What's a respectable brother to do when his younger sibling has been taken over by a ruthless bank robber and become involved in a capital crime? Bow Street Runner John Pickett will sacrifice his life with former society matron Julia and their unborn child to rescue his half-brother Kit from degradation and possibly the gallows, and free the boy from the misery that's all he's known since childhood. In this installment of the John Pickett mysteries, we get a deeper insight into John's past, while enjoying the backdrop of Georgian London and the deep divide between the rich and poor. Ms. Cobb delighted me with the tension as John sought to find Kit and wrest him from the evil man who bought him from his gin-soaked mother. You don't have to be familiar with the others in the series. to be drawn into this tightly woven plot and its finely crawn characters. The best John Pickett yet! I received a free copy of this audiobook and am leaving an honest, voluntary review.

Great!

cosy-mystery, British, law-enforcement, London, mystery, class-consciousness***** John Pickett is a Bow Street Runner who investigated the death of the (unlamented) husband of Lady Julia and saved her from the noose. Now they are married and John is involved in a case where one of the miscreants turns out to be his ten year old half brother previously unknown to him requiring him to go undercover in the Rookeries and other unsavory (but familiar) parts of London. Each time I read one of this series I swear that it is the best! It is a very British mystery with sly humor. Joel Froomkin is so very talented with the way that he is able to differentiate the characters and he did a great job with the accents. I won the audio in a giveaway. Yay me!

****

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. John Pickett and his beloved Lady Julia return for more adventures in this latest entry in the series. This time, even as John attempts to find a safer profession than that of Bow Street Runner for the sake of his new wife and unborn child, he happens upon a child in deep trouble - a child who turns out to be his own previously unknown half-brother. The thrilling story follows John as with increasing desperation, he strives to free his unexpected little brother from the clutches of an ambitious, sociopathic criminal. I found this book enjoyable, though I did find the main antagonist rather lacking as a supposed criminal mastermind feared by all and sundry. John is rather more melodramatic than usual, but given what he goes through, physically and emotionally, I don't really hold it against him. Overall, though, despite these minor issues, it's a very entertaining read. So, in general, I could say that Sheri Cobb South doesn't disappoint me in this latest addition to the John Pickett series and I find myself very much looking forward to reading the next one.

Priceless

I have listed to this series for years and recommend it to all Having become more attracted after each audio book. My thanks to Mrs South. Been a bit of a hard year and the stories have helped me keep sane.

Absolutely love it!

I absolutely love this audiobook. I'll be honest and tell you I have never "read" one of this author's books. The audiobooks, especially with Joel L Froomkin narrating, are so incredibly wonderful, that I wait for the audiobook versions. The John Pickett series is my favorite, and this one (#10) is the absolute best so far. As the series has gone on, the books have improved, and in the case of this one, gotten a little deeper and darker. John Picket has grown personally and professionally, although this book ends with him at a crossroads. I love Pickett, and his growing family, and his sometimes growly, but always supportive, father-figure magistrate. I hope Ms. Cobb South has more stories about John, because he is truly an intelligent, gentle, heroic figure, and sometimes more than a little funny. I would be deeply sorry to ever say goodbye. This particular book has a little less humor and a little more danger and drama that past books, but the tension and personal stake only added to the realism. That said, even in the direst of circumstances, there are flashes of humor. As the runners prepare to stop a crime, the magistrate says he doesn't want to hear gunfire, and adds sternly if he does, "your life had better be in mortal peril!" Later when a runner hasn't used his gun to break a lock because "my life isn't in mortal peril," the magistrate replies "It will be if you don't get up there!" I had to laugh. The narration by Mr. Froomkin is always fantastic! His accents are wonderful and really give the characters individuality and color. I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review. I would give the audiobook 10 stars if I could.

Great listen!!

South and Froomkin have teamed up again to continue the saga that is John Pickett's life. Here he searches for a heretofore unknown sibling in an attempt to save the kid. Along the way, we are treated to glimpses of John Pickett, the boy. Though told (and performed!) with levity, it was still a disturbing past. This was an absolutely great listen!!

Fantastic Nail Biter Pickett Mystery!

Oh my goodness, this book was so hard to put down! I have listened to many of the books in this series but this one by far was more intense and, yes, was a true nail-biter. In book 10, John and Julia are newly married and expecting when he finds out that he has a 10 year old half brother that is with a scary and very dangerous couple of bank robbers. John now must rescue him before he is caught and sentenced to hang with the men he knows is controlling the boy. John finds himself back in the Rookery and other filthy and dodgy places of his past. Most of these books have been really clean and closer to the PG side of the ratings, however with the people and areas John is thrown into this book really pushed it into the PG13 side. The language is still pretty clean but there is more violence and sexual content, no actual scenes but illusions are stronger (ex. in one part he is in a brothel and the thin walls allow him to hear and picture exactly what is taking place in the other room). As a parent I would be fine with high school and up for this one. The narrator is absolutely perfect and truly makes this an incredible audio book! —I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

another fun Pickett mystery

so enjoy these stories! poor John so many of his troubles he brings upon himself! great narration, Joel Froomkin *is* John Pickett.

" Easy not to think of money when you have plenty"

Book 10 in the ongoing John Pickett series and still the tale of romance between two widely differing classes in English Regency society has still not lost any of it's charm. This delightful and well written murder mystery continues with the juggling of niceties of a bygone era, again deliciously narrated by Joel Froomkin,. His reading is well paced and articulated and suitably English accented, everything delivered with the lightest of touches, emphasising the comedic content but never simply playing it for laughs. This time, Brother Can You Spare a Crime? takes the reader deeper into the darker areas of John Pickett's earlier life and the more sordid side of old London. In part an historic comedy of manners, part blighted romance, all wrapped into a really good story of robbery, murder and intrigue, delivered with realistic characters and an above average narration, this is a book to be enjoyed by everyone with a delight in crime thrillers. My thanks to the rights holder not only for freely gifting me a complementary copy, via Audiobook Boom, but also, in so doing, continuing my association with the John Pickett series

Funny historical mystery

The author doesn't disappoint us in this tenth book in the series. There is a turning point for John Pickett and I am looking forward to finding out if things goes the way he planned. This is my favourite to go to series whenever I want a laugh, and I would highly recommend it to everyone!

An entertaining short story

I loved this little side story to John's usual mysteries and crime solving and it was something for me to enjoy while I wait for the next John Pickett audiobook! Here he has to navigate a world where he doesn't exist and the ripple effect that has on the people he loves. A Christmas Carol type story with a lovely ending. I voluntarily reviewed an audio review copy.